Saturday, December 27, 2008

Naples Noodles ItalianCafe & Sushi Jazz Night Rocks!

Noodle's Italian Cafe's Jazz Night is the place to be, Saturdays from 9:30 pm till 1 am. The regulars return for the Italian food and the sushi, now they return for the music and the food!

Paul Rozmus & the Funkyside Band is the name of this 5 piece light jazz and rock band. Paul is a superb flutist-picture Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and you know the quality! His wife, Renata, is a dynamo with the electric violin, and she puts on an electrifying performance, sometimes at band level, other times on a platform several feet off the ground! Together with the other musicians, Steve Lavealley and Mario Escareno, they play jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, and fusion. People just start dancing and clapping! Brothers Matt and Seth Benevento-Berman started Noodles 16 years ago, and it moved to larger digs last year. The setting is warm and welcoming, with autumn colors, and plenty of woods and copper. Each month, they pair with Sweet Art Gallery, and sponsor one local artist's work on the walls. Yes, there's great visual talent in town, and Dede Sweet knows who to feature. Noodles has a full menu, and a special, lighter menu when the music starts. I had the sushi, and it's fresh and beautifully prepared. There's also Pasta Bayou with Andouille Sausage, blackened chicken, smoked mozzarella and capicolla, tossed with lemon fettucine ($15), Lobster Ravioli's with crawfish and tasso cream sauce (10), Crabe Cakes topped with Cajun shrimp and lobster sauce (14), and Fresh Florida Gator Cocktail (9). My partner had the Big Easy Platter with fried oysters, gator tail, and shrimp (16), and it was crisp and fresh! The portions are good sized, and the price is right for an evening of dining and dancing with a top band. They even make custom plates for special requests.The crème brûlée is one of the best in town! The Band kicks it up!

And the dance floor fills up fast!

For "big city" high quality live music and dancing, Noodles on Saturday night after 9 is THE place to be, with Paul Rozmus's Funkyside Band!